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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A paradox & a pair of ducks

While learning how to transition overseas, many things can be explained in paradoxes.  We are excited to start a new life in a new city yet we are sad to leave family and friends.  There will be awesome Chinese food yet we will miss a really good hamburger and excellent Mexican food.  Good and bad seems to go together as we process about moving abroad.  Recently, we have acquired a common language that has helped us to process through this paradox of emotions we have been experiencing.  Introducing our new friends "yay duck" and "yuck duck" which makes up a "pair-of-ducks".  


Using this common language has helped us identify things that we see as joys and others that are struggles.  It has helped us to process through the fact that in this transition, and when we move to China, it will not all be good - we will have yuck ducks.  On the flip side, it will not all be bad because we will also have yay ducks even in the midst of hard days.  Yay ducks and yuck ducks travel together, and it's a good thing.  Yay for new friends, yuck for leaving old ones.  Yay for bikes rides in a nearby park, yuck for bikes rides in the rain.  Yay for purging unused stuff as we prepare to move, yuck for having to box up some of our favorite dishes.  In regards to this weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park, yay for awesome views and time with friends and yuck for the crazy wind.  As you can see, the list could go on and on.  

What are your current yay ducks in life?  Your yuck ducks?  Do you think having a common language would help you and your family/friends/coworkers process through how you are feeling about certain situations?  Feel free to leave a comment sharing your yay duck or yuck duck for the day - but remember, they usually travel in pairs.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Rocky Mountain National Park

This weekend we were in Denver with our friends and took a Sunday drive through Rocky Mountain National Park.  The views were breathtaking and the company was refreshing making for an amazing day.  We spotted elk (none close enough for pictures), cute and cuddly marmots and lots of beautiful wildflowers dotting the alpine tundra.  I have to point out though that the wind was crazy - even scary at times.  We have been so blessed by our time here in Colorado!  It's hard to get tired of amazing views and great fellowship. 

At the visitor's center with our friends - the only place it wasn't windy!




So cute!  Hello Mr. Marmot.

Picturesque alpine lake



Monday, June 4, 2012

Pikes Peak

There are so many beautiful places to visit here in Colorado.  This weekend we took advantage of the gorgeous weather and decided to drive up Pikes Peak, all 14,000 feet of it.  It was a 19 mile drive to the top full of gorgeous views, sweeping landscapes and many hairpin turns.  The weather cooperated in our favor and at the top we had amazing views of the surrounding region.  After about an hour at the top, we headed back down and were racing storm clouds the whole way.  We stopped in Manitou Springs for lunch, and literally 60 seconds after we got seated the torrential rain came.  Talk about timing!  

It was a great day full of the glory of creation and awesome fellowship with new friends.  We are so glad to be able to spend time in this amazing place!  We are truly blessed.

Taking in the view on the way up to the top.


We made it!  At the top of Pikes Peak.
The entire group at the top.



Strom clouds rolling in on Pikes Peak.